Dispute over pills contributed to fatal shooting

Published: Wednesday, July 17, 2013 at 06:09 PM.

“I like to think I’m a tough guy, but when this guy started shooting I got on the ground,” Wright testified.

In exchange for his testimony, Wright has been told by Gaston County District Attorney Locke Bell that he won’t be prosecuted on the armed robbery charges connected to the incident.

Eric Perry also testified about the chaotic scene the night Mabe was shot in the back.

Perry was driving to his girlfriend’s house after work when he spotted a car driving toward him in his lane.

Perry testified that he saw someone in the car fire several shots before driving away. Perry said he didn’t get a good look at the driver because he ducked down in his car when he saw the gunshot blasts.

Perry said once the driver left, he almost followed suit.

“My first instinct was to drive off because I didn’t have nothing to do with it. But I have a daughter myself and I couldn’t do that,” he testified.

Jimmy David Wright’s face reddened and his voice cracked as he told a jury about the night Amanda Mabe was killed.

Wright said he watched as the 22-year-old woman was struck in the back by a bullet in August 2011.

“She said, ‘Oh, God.’ And that’s it. That’s it,” Wright testified.

Wearing handcuffs and leg shackles, Wright was the second witness for the prosecution in the first-degree murder trial of Jeffery Scott Hughes.

A convicted felon serving time for having a firearm, Wright testified that Mabe was caught in the crossfire of an argument between him and Hughes.

Wright testified that he and Hughes met through a drug deal a few weeks before the shooting. During that meeting, Hughes sold $600 worth of prescription pills, Wright said.

Wright thought he was buying Percocet, but the pills turned out to be fakes, he testified.

Hughes showed up at Wright’s house to buy pills from Wright’s son on Aug. 23, 2011, according to testimony.

When Wright got home and saw Hughes in his driveway, harsh words were exchanged, Wright testified.

He said he pulled a gun on Hughes while Mabe sat in the back seat of Hughes’ car. Wright said that he demanded retribution from Hughes for the $600 he’d spent buying fake pills.

Mabe got out of the car, and Hughes started backing down the driveway. Hughes stopped, pulled out a 9 mm Smith & Wesson and began firing, Wright testified. The shots continued as Hughes drove away, according to testimony.

Initially, Wright testified that Hughes fired the gun, drove away, then came back and fired again.

When questioned by defense attorney Rick Beam, Wright said he was confused about whether Hughes returned and fired more rounds.

“I like to think I’m a tough guy, but when this guy started shooting I got on the ground,” Wright testified.

In exchange for his testimony, Wright has been told by Gaston County District Attorney Locke Bell that he won’t be prosecuted on the armed robbery charges connected to the incident.

Eric Perry also testified about the chaotic scene the night Mabe was shot in the back.

Perry was driving to his girlfriend’s house after work when he spotted a car driving toward him in his lane.

Perry testified that he saw someone in the car fire several shots before driving away. Perry said he didn’t get a good look at the driver because he ducked down in his car when he saw the gunshot blasts.

Perry said once the driver left, he almost followed suit.

“My first instinct was to drive off because I didn’t have nothing to do with it. But I have a daughter myself and I couldn’t do that,” he testified.

Police stopped Hughes near where the shooting occurred. According to Bell, shell casings fell out when Hughes got out of the car, and a gun was under the passenger’s side seat.

Hughes is charged with first-degree murder, possession of a stolen firearm, shooting into an occupied dwelling and possession of a firearm by a felon.